Tubing bleeder for oil well pumps



Jan. 27, Z. H B, LEE 2,270,952

TUBING BLEEDER Fon oIL WELL' PUMPS Filed Nov. 2, 1940 [fu/enfer Wma@ 5MM Patented Jan. 27, 1942 UNITED'STATES PATENT OFFICE TUBING BLEEDER FOR OILWELLPUMPS Hartley Burton Lee, Berkeley, Calif. .Application November 2, 1940, Serial `ida-:64,046

E(Cl. 137-34) 11 Claims.

This invention, a tube bleeder, Iis specifically designed for bleeding pump columns of oilwell pumping systems, though it may also be adapted to pumps for pumping other types of liquids-.and for draining enclosedvpipelines. y

Forr pumping oil from oil wells plunger pumps are customarily used and which are actuated through the medium of a sucker rod which eX- tends down into the'string of pipe which forms the pump column and which extends to the surface and from which point it is piped to tanks, sumps, or pipe lines, a walking'beam or jack be ing used to operate the sucker rod.

The string of pipe or column through'which the oil is lifted to the surface, particularly in connection with deep wells, is provided with a tubing catcher at its lower end, so that,in` the event of breakage or slipping ofy the tube, the catcher will engage the inside of the well casing and prevent the tube from dropping to the bottom of the well.

In case of such breakage the tube will be suitably drained, but there are many occasions when the tube must be removed, possibly in view of wear of the piston packing, improperly seating valves, sanding or gumming, or for various other reasons, andr in such cases thetuberemains full of oil during the removal process.l This adds the load of the entire tube of oil to that of the tube and pump parts which must be raised from the well, and, as the pump system isl liftedA from the .well the'oil contained in the tubeis wasted, particularly in view of the factk that the tube must be disassembledl section byV section, in lengths conforming to the height'which the derrick is capable of handling. When it is considered that in some cases these tubes or columns are thousandsof feet long and on the average between 2 and 3 inches in diametenit will be realized that considerable additional Aweight must be lifted and that considerable wastage of oilresults each` time the tube is removed from the well.

The objects of the invention; to eliminate this wastage of oil and of the power required to lift this wasted oil to the surface; to make the removal ofthe tube more convenient and eliminate the major part of the messinessv during the operation of uncoupling the sections; to facilitate the operation of removing the-tube; to reduce the fire hazard which results from the spillage of oil about the well, and to provide easily operated and economically constructed meansy for carrying out these objects.

In describing the invention reference will be made to the accompanying drawing; inwhich Fig.L V1k isI a--f-ront elevation of the invention shown in lhalf section, to show both,v theinterior and exterior construction; Y

Fig.-2 isA a section taken on line 2--2 of Fig. l.

liig.=3y is a section taken on line-33 of Fig. 1. -The customary 'oil well pump includes a cylinder |witl'ra piston orV plunger operating therein and -whichpiston'isoperated by a sucker rod whichin' turn is-operated -by'fa walking beam or jack.- These partsgbeing well'known in the art and not forming a part of the invention through being associated therewith, are not illustrated.

The cylinder (not shown) is located at the lowerend of thelower tube I0 and this-'tube has associated therewith the customary tubingcatcher-9 whichr is well known in the art and which is therefore -vonly roughly indicatedr This tubing catcher, as is well known,- is brought into immediateaction when the tube I0 is suddenly or too rapidly -loweredand grabsthe inner' surface of the'well casing vII and supports the tube, preventingit from dropping down into the well. It also coincidently locks the tube againstfrotation, and a slight lift on the tube releases the catcherl to Apermit raising or lowering of the tube. This-invention, thetube bleeder, is located betweenv the lower portion Iii of the tubey and the upper portion I2,- and preferably immediately above the tube catcher, and forms a part of the string of tubing or/pump column.v -This is-fclear1y indicated in Fig-l, and; the-invention consists of a base I3-which ischamfered at itslower end as indica-ted at I4 to prevent its catching'onl-any joints or other obstructions in the wellcasing II, .andI the base' has a bore I5 which issubstantially equal to the inside diameter-"of the tube I0, and it also has a threaded counterbore I6 for the threaded end I1 of thelower portion I0 ofthe string of tubing, and it isf reduced in diameter and threaded at I8 for connection to the body I9 and also has a shoulder 20 against which the lower end 2| ofthe body seats toform an oiltight joint. This base has one orfmore stops 22 which projectr upwardly from the top-surface 23;

The body I9 is internally threaded at its lower end-as indicated at 24 and is tightly screwed onto the-threaded portion `I 8 of the-base; thus the body I9, base lI3 and lower'porti'on I0 of; the string of tubing are connected into a rigid unit.

Mounted within the body I9 is a valve 25which l ing on the rate @bleeding` desired. v'This Valve has an integral stem 39 which has approximately the same internal diameter as the tubing |9--I2 and is turned externally andis threaded at its upper end as indicated at 3l for the coupling 32 which connects it to the upper portion I2 of the string or tubing.

The body I9 is bored at 33 to fit the stem 30 and is relieved at 34 and bushed at 35 to form a bearing and secondary oil seal, and has double inclined clutch teeth 36 formed at its upper end. Thus the valve 25 and stem 30 are rotatable within the body and relative to the lower portion l of the string.

One or more stops 31 are formed on the lower end of the valve and depend from the lower surface thereof for cooperation with the stops 22 one stop being shown for cooperation with two stops 22 on the base I8, and these stops are so related that when the stops cooperate in one position, the ports 28 and 29 will be in registry, and when they cooperate in the other position all ports 28 and 29 will be out of registry and will be sealed by the valve Kfaces 26 and 21.

Rotatably and slidably mounted on the stem 30 and located above the body is a clutch block 38 which has teeth 39 formed at its lower end for cooperation with the teeth 36 formed at the upper end of the body, and suitable slots 40 are formed at the upper end for sliding cooperation with the tongues 4I which depend from the thrust collar 42 and which is slidable but nonrotatable on the stem 39, rotation being prevented by the key 43 or other suitable means. The upper end of this thrust collar is chamfered at 44 to prevent catching on the joints of the well casing Il, and compression springs 45 are mounted in bores 46 and 41 formed respectively in the clutch block and thrust collar. A contractile ring 48 is seated in a groove 49 formed in the stem 30 and retained within the counterbore formed at the upper end of the thrust co1- lar, for limiting the upward movement of the thrustecollar under the urgence of the springs 45.

The operation of the invention is as follows: During normal pumping operations the stop 31 rests against the other stop 22 from that with which it rests in Fig. 3 and the port 28 is located 90 from the position shown in Fig. 1 and the port 29 is sealed by the face26 of the valve. Thus there can be no leakage of oil from the inside of the tube or column, the oil being pumped up through the internal passage D through the valve stem.

If it becomes necessary to remove the string of tubing, the string is disconnected at the surface while being supported by the rigging. It is then quickly or somewhat suddenly lowered to a slight extent to cause the tubing catcher to grab the casing Il thus supporting the entire string and coincidentally locking the tube catcher section 19 against rotation relative to the well casing.

The upper section I2 at the surface is then rotated through a portion of a revolution, causing the teeth 39 to ride over the teeth 36 until the stops 22 and 31 cooperate as indicated in Fig. 3, thus aligning the ports 28 and 29 as indicated in Fig. l and permitting the oil within the string of tubing to drain out into the surrounding Well casing.

The string can now be raised and disconnected section by section, and during the process of raising, grabbing and disconnecting a section, the oil in the balance of the string will have had ample time to drain from the next section to be removed and which when raised may be disconnected without the loss of any oil because the oil will have drained back into the well, making the job far cleaner with no oily mess around the well, while reducing the amount of power required and eliminating wastage of oil.

When the string of tubing is to be replaced, the stem of the valve is turned by means of the portion 5| to the position where the portsv28 and 29 are sealed as previously explained and the first section is connected to the Valve stem, lowered, and followed by the succeeding sections until the entire string is back in place in the Well.

Unless the lower section is held by some means, the entire string of tubing Will rotate because the teeth 36 and 39 backed up by the springs 45 will prevent any other than forced rotation of the 4 upper portion l2 relative to the lower portion l0. The tongues 4I and key 43 together with the springs 45 and teeth 36 and 39 all cooperate to maintain the relation between the two portions of the string.

The clutch in combination with the springs, tongues and key maintains the relation between the ports 28 and 29 whether in open or closed position, and when the two portions are forceably rotated one relative to the other, the stops 22 and 31 assure respectively full opening of the ports or complete sealing thereof. It prevents rotation of one relative to the other under any other conditions, so that the ports cannot be accidentally closed While the string is being raised from the Well or while the pump is in operation.

I claim: f

l. A tube bleeder for a string of tubing comprising; a device coupled in the string intermediate its length and forming a coupling and consisting of an internal member terminating at its lower end in a valve, and an external member rotatable on said internal member and having a valve seat formed therein, said members being rotatably mounted one 'Within the other and coupled together and respectively connected to the upper and lower portions of the string and including, ports formed through said valve and said seat controlled thereby and draining to the exterior of the device when the ports are opened by said valve, said ports being adjusted to open and closed positions through rotation of one portion of the string relative to the other while maintaining the valve constantly seating on the seat, said valve functioning as the sole support for the external member and the lower portion of the string of tubing, through cooperation with said seat. n

2. A tube bleeder for a string of tubing consisting of two portions comprising; a device forming an intermediate section of said string and coupling the two portions together `and comprising two members relatively rotatable one within the other and forming in combination a valve and a seat; alignable ports formed through said valve and through said seat and providing communication between the interiorand the exterior of the device When the two members are in one relative position and being sealed by said valve when said two members are in another relative position; rotation of one of said vportions relative to the other changing said relative positions for drainage or nondrainage, said valve cooperating with the undersurface of the portion of one member which forms said seat and functioning as the sole support for the one member andthe lower portion of the string of tubing through suspending tween'the valve and its seat through the weight `of said one member and the lower portion of the string.

3. A tube bleeder comprising an upper and a lower tubular element, with the upper element rotatable'within the lower element, said upper element terminating at its lower end in an annularly-projecting valve with the valve face formed on the upper surface, and a valve-seat .formed interiorly of said lower element for cooperation with said valve face and ports controlled by said valve and seat for draining fluid from the interior tothe exterior of the bleeder or maintaining the fluid against drainage, at will; said elements being adjustable to two positions respectively for opening and closing said ports through relative rotation of one element to the other, and means releasable through predetermined torque diierential between the respective elements maintaining the relative positions under normal conditions or torque applied with a value less than said predetermined differential, said lower element being suspendedly supported and having its sole support through said valve and valve seat and functioning to maintain constant contact between the valve and its seat. Y

4. A tube bleeder fora string of tubing cornprising; two tubular elements rotatable one within the other and consisting of an outer element and an inner element and including valve means and ports controlled thereby for communication between the interior of the inner tubular element and the exterior of the outer tubular element; said Valve means including a valve and its seat forming locking means for locking the elements together and supporting means for sole support of the lower portion of the string by the inner tubular element; said elements having connecting means for connection within the string of tubing; rotation of one element relative to the other in one direction aligning said ports for drainage of fluid, and in the other direction sealing said ports against drainage; stop means associated with said elements for limiting the degree of rotation in either direction; and means associated with said elements maintaining the relative positions of said ports under normal operating conditions and releasing under predetermined torque differential applied to the respective elements.

5. A structure as dened in claim 4 in which said tubular elements consist respectively of an axial base having said stop means included therein and a passage and securable to the lower portion of the string of tubing and with the outer tubular element attached thereto said valve means consisting of a conical valve seat formed internally of said outer element with said ports formed within the limits of said seat, and said inner tubular element terminating at its lower end in an annularly projecting conical valve; a tubular stem for said valve and rotatable in said outer tubular element and seating on said seat and with said ports formed within the confines thereof and including means for attaching said stem to the upper portion of the string.

6. A tube bleeder for bleeding liquidirom a string of tubing consisting of an upper portion and a lower portion, comprising; a base having a fluid passage therethrough and attached and sealed to said lower portion; an outer tubular element sealed to said base and counterbored at its lower end and terminating in an internal conical valve seat and outer ports formed through the wall of said tubular element within theconlines of said seat; an inner tubular element rotatable in said outer element and terminating at its lower end in an. annularly projecting conical valve seating on said seat and having inner ports y formed therethrough and alignable with said outer ports; said .valve forming locking means for locking the two elements together and forming the sole support for suspendedly supporting the lower portion of the string by said inner tubular element; said inner tubular element having means for attachment to the upper portion of said string; rotation of one element relative to the other aligning said ports in a predetermined position and sealing said ports in another position; suspended support of the lower portion of the string by the inner element rfunctioning to efliciently seat said valve through applicationv of the weight of said outer tubular element and the lower portion of the string.

7. Coupling means for coupling two portions Yof a string of tubing comprising; two tubular elements one rotatable within the other and respectively connected to the two portions and including an outer element and an inner element and locking means coincidently forming valve means including a conical valve and a seat formed respectively on said inner and outer elements; alignable ports formed through said Valve and said seat; stops formed on said elementsfor cooperation for alignment and non-alignment of said ports; and a clutch releasable under predetermined torque differential for maintaining the relative positions of said ports under normal operating conditions and torque differentials; said valve and seat being adapted to function as the sole support for the lower portion of the string by said inner element with the total weight of the lower portion operating to seat the valve on its seat.

8. A tubing bleeder comprising; va rst tubular element attachable to the lower end of the upper portiony of a string of tubing and terminating at its lower end in an annular flange with a rst pendedly supported through said flange and top of said counterbore through cooperation between said valve seats, and said rst tubular element being rotatable within said second tubular element, and means included for limiting the relative rotation of said elements.

9. A tubing bleeder comprising; an outer tubular element attachable at its lower end to the upper end of the lower portion of a string of tubing and. having a counterbore formed upwardly from its lower end terminating in a conical valve seat; an inner tubular element rotatable in said outer element and attachable at its upper end to the lower end of the upper portion of the string of tubing and yterminating at its lower end in an annularly projecting flange formed with a mating conical valve face on its top surface'for cooperation with said valve seat and forming suspending means ior the outer element with the weight of the outer element being adapted to create intensive and positive cooperation between the face andthe seat for efcient sealing; and portsialignablettlfirough rotation of the inner element relativ'e'to the outer element and formed through said: inner and outer elements Within the connes of said face and said seat.

10.,A'tube bleeder comprising; a rst tubular element having means at its lower end for connection tothe lower portion of a string of pipe and counterbored upwardly from its lower end and terminating at the upper end of the bore in a valve seat; a second tubular element rotatable in`said first tubular element and having means at its upper. end for connection to the upper portion of the string of pipe and terminating at its i lower end in a flange rotatable in said counterbore and with a valve face formed on the upper surface of the flange for cooperation with said valve seat; said first tubular element functioning as a valve stem for the valve formed by said ange and as a support for the second tubular element and the lower portion of the string of pipe; alignable passages formed through both elements; said valve face and seat cooperating to seal said passages against escape of fluid from the inside of the first tubular element to the outside of the second tubular element when the tubular elements are in one relative position, and opening said passages for escape of fluid when one of the tubular elements is rotated to another position relative to the other tubular element, and breaking the seal between the valve face and its seat in the event of breakage of the upper portion of the string and thereby draining the upper portion of the string.

11. A tubebleeder comprising; a sleeve having a counterbore formed upwardly from its lower end and terminating at the top of the counterbore in a conical valve seat; a second sleeverotatable in said rst sleeve and terminating at its lower end in a ange rotatable within said counterbore and having a conical top face for cooperation with said conical seat and forming a Valve with said second sleeve functioning as the valve stem; and a stop element depending from the bottom of said iiange, and means for sealably securing the upper end of said valve stem to the upper portion of a string of tubing; a connection sealably lconnectedto the lower end of said rst sleeve and having means at its lower end for sealable connection to the lower portion of the string of tubing, and having an internal diameter less than that of the first sleeve and having a stop member on its top surface for cooperation with said stop element to limit the degree of rotation of said valve relative to its seat; passages formed respectively through both sleeves within the confines of the seating surfaces of said valve and its seat; and alignable through limited rotational adjustment of one sleeve relative to the other; and clutch means cooperating between said sleeves and urging maintenance of the existing relation between vthe sleeves and the relative adjusted relation between the passages, differential torque applied between the sleeves overcoming said urgence for adjustment of the sleeves and passages one relative to the other.

HARTLEY BURTON LEE. 

